John Kani, veteran actor and Buy Back SA’s first champion.
In a bid to grow local business, government has invested R2.4 million in a national campaign launched recently to promote locally manufactured goods.
The Buy Back South Africa campaign, a partnership between the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Proudly South Africa and the Manufacturing Circle, kicked off the first phase ahead of the 2013 festive season.
According to Garth Strachan, acting deputy director general for industrial development at the DTI, the campaign’s main objective is not only to get consumers to buy locally manufactured goods, but for big business to procure from small suppliers as well.
“It is also important that big companies buy local and to work towards ensuring that their supply chains are aimed at supporting local manufacturers,” says Strachan, echoing the words of Minister Rob Davies at the launch of the Buy Back Campaign in November 2013.
Strachan says the advertising campaign, estimated to be worth around R10 million, was in its first phase with veteran actor John Kani as its first champion.
“After the elections we will enter phase two of the campaign using other national champions to support this cause via similar electronic media,” says Strachan.
He says the campaign was critical to small business owners who supply local markets whether they were in the retail, mining or clothing and textile sectors. This was in accordance with a statement made by Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies who said that the campaign was “crucial to companies – especially large retailers with large procurement budgets and supply chains – supporting local manufacturers…because there are very often sound commercial reasons for doing so related to total cost of ownership; after-sales service; quick response; security of supply; niche product requirements; quality assurance and so forth.”
- For more information go to www.buybacksa.co.za